Combined top and burner structure for fire pots



May 16, 1933- J. IRONSIDE. ET AL 1,909,584

COMBINED TOP AND BURNER STRUCTURE FOR FIRE POTS Filed Dec. '7, 1927 2Sheets-$heet l 11\ /'VENTOR. JAWiJ 120M105 ATTORNEY.

y 1933- J. IRONSIDE El AL 1,909,584

COMBINED TOP AND BURNER STRUCTURE FOR FIRE POTS Filed Dec. 7, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 M TTORA/EY.

Patented May 1%, 1933 TATES WT Fries JAMES IRONSIDE AND CLARENCE B.OVERLY, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS, BY

IIIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CLAYTON &: LAMBERT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE V COMBINED TO]? AND BURNERSTRUCTURE FOR FIRE POTS Application filed December 7, 1327. Serial No.238,264.

This invention relates to a combined top and burner structure for firepots. It has to do particularly with a novel burner structure ofextremely compact and efficient design in which the top of the fire potis combined integrally with the burner structure.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of fire pots utilizing liquid fuel,generating tubes or coils of many different shapes and designs have beensuggested and embodied in the fire pot structure for vaporizing theliquid fuel in order to make the same highly combustible and produce theblast or intense flame desired. One form of commercial fire pot whichhas been very successful, comprises a coiled generating tube, arrangedcentrally of the fire pot, and so positioned as to be heated partiallyor wholly by the burner blast. In such fire pots, and in fire pots inall other designs of which we are aware, it has been customary toprovide separate burner structure and top structure, and in most allfire pots of this design the separately formed top structure issubjected to intense heat from the burner structure, re-

sulting in rapid burning out or deterioration of the top structure.

It is the object of the present invention to combine the top structureand burner structure in such manner as to form a compact efficientburner and top structure, the top structure being capable of carryingout all the functions heretofore assigned to top structure, and the topstructure and burner structure being so designed and arranged that theflames from the burner has substantially no deteriorating effect on thetop structure. More specifically, this invention contemplates theprovision of an integrally formed burner and top structure; or even morespecifically, the top structure preferably forms a part of the burnerstructure. This novel, compact structure and fire pot is preferablyaccomplished by arranging the generating tube beneath the burnerstructure and heating the same with an independent source of fuel supplyother than that from the main burner. The burner structure is preferablyannular in shape, with the top wall of the annular burner structure orpassageway forming the top of the burner and fire pot, the fuelprojecting portion of the burner being formed of an innercircumferential surface of the burner whereby to project the flamesinwardly and upwardly.

As a result of this structure the entire fire pot structure isexceedingly compact and easy to assemble and relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, the burner structure serving the combined purpose of aburner and a top structure, and performing both functions veryefficiently. The generating of the fuel vapor is preferably accomplishedindependently of the main burner flame, and is thus readily accessiblefor starting, operating, and for cleaning and adjusting.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the top part of a fire pot embodying thegeneral features of our combined burner and top structure, andillustrating in particular the location of the generating tube and fuelconducting manifold relative to the burner and shield structure.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, and showing theannular shape of the burner and a flame deflector positioned centrallythereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional View taken centrally throughthe burner structure and showing the preferred arrangement of theelements going to make up the burner top structure in combination with amodified form of shield.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the unitary central part of the burnerstructure consisting of the flame deflector, top supporting members andanular rings for holding the burner 3 is position.

The subject matter of this application is peculiarly adapted to the typeof fire pot illustrated in Patents 1,853,309 of April 12 1932 and1,879,938 of September 27, 1932 but it will be understood that our novelcombined burner and top plate may be utilized in connection with firepots having varying designs ofstarting and generating apparatus.

The fire pot which we have illustrated in Fig. 1 as embodying ourinvention is shown with a standard fuel reservoir, but it will beobvious that any type of fuel reservoir may be provided for preferablysupporting the general fire pot structure 1a. The supporting legs forthe fire pot structure, including the generating and burner structure,are shown as at 1, and a suitable liquid fuel conducting conduit isshown at 2, both the legs 1 and conduit 2 being directly connected toand carried by the fuel reservoir. The legs or bolts 1 are preferablyturned down to form a shoulder at the upper end and suitably threaded toreceive suitable lugs 3 forming a part of our combined burner and topstructure, which may be generally designated 4.

The conduit 2 is adapted to conduct suitable liquid fuel under pressureto a valve housing 5, controlled by the valve 6 from where the liquidfuel is adapted to be conducted to a suitable generator tube 7. Thisgenerator tube is best shown in Fig. 2 and is preferably positioned atone side of and below the annular burner 4. A suitable blast deflector 8is pivotally mounted in front of and above the end of the generator tube7 and is adapted to be swung into position in front of the generatortube to deflect fuel vapor initially issuing therefrom back against thegenerator to accelerate starting, and adapted to be swung to an upperposition to permit the generated fuel to be projected towards and into amixing conduit 9 spaced from and in alignment with the generator tube 7.

This mixing conduit 9 terminates in an upwardly directed manifoldconduit 10, which conducts the generated and mixed fuel towards theannular burner member, as will be later described. The upturned portionof the manifold 10 is to prevent any raw fuel from b61119 conducted tothe burner, but instead, conc ucting raw fuel back toward and into thepriming cup, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The manifold 10preferably extends downwardly towards the outlet, as at 11, and isconnected to the under side of the annular burner member 4, as bestshown in Fig. 3.

Near the point at which the manifold is connected to the burner memberit is provided with an auxiliary burner member 12, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2, which extends parallel alongside of the generator tube.This auxiliary burner is constantly fed with combustible fuel during theoperation of the fire pot and is provided with suitable burner openingsdirected toward the generator tube whereby to heat the generator tubeand maintain vaporization of the fuel.

The annular burner structure 4 is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 andpreferably consists of an annular hollow burner member having a topportion 13 and a solid outer side 14, a bottom 15 and a slotted innerwall 16. The lower wall 15 of the burner member is member 17 is held inposition by means of an integrally cast member shown in Fig. 4. Thismember may be generally designated 18 and comprises two annular spacedrings 19 and 20. The member 18 preferably fits within the annular screenmember 17, and upon being forced down into place, as shown in Fig. 3,holds the perforate screen 17 in position, the ring members 19 and 20cooperating with the upper and lower portions of the slotted wall 16.

The base member 4 is preferably provided with suitable extensions whichare adapted to be positioned beneath suitable lugs 21 of the member 18,the lugs of the burner member being suitably drilled and tapped toreceive screws which are adapted to be in sorted in suitable aperturesin the lugs 21. The projections on the burner member thus form supportsfor the member 18, and by means of the screws the member 18 is rigidlyheld in place. The perforate screen 17 therefor forms an annular burneroutlet for the annular burner member 4 whereby the vapoized fuel isprojected inwardly towards a common center in a plurality of finestreams.

The integral member 18 is also provided with a flame deflector member 22which forms an upwardly extending convex surface centrally of theannular perforate screen 17, and preferably extending slightlythereabove, whereby the fuel vapor and flames issuing centrally from thescreen 17 may be deflected and projected upwardly. The member 18 is alsoformed with suitable stepped supporting members 23 which are sopositioned, as shown in Fig. 2, as to receive standard melting pots orto assist in supporting soldering irons or other members to be heated. Asuitable shield 24 is preferably positioned on the top part of thecombined burner and top plate 4, the top 13 of the burner supporting theshield, as shown in Fig. 3. This shield may be of various forms, and insome fire pots may be quickly interchanged for shields of other forms.As shown in Fig. 3, the shield is preferably so shaped as to confine andconcentrate the flames around the metal pot, or in the form of shieldshown in Fig. 1 which confine the heat to the soldering iron or otherelement or elements being heated.

It will thus be seen that by providing an annular burner memberpositioned above the generating apparatus, and having its inner wallslotted to project the flames inwardly, that such annular member formsalso a very desirable top plate, whereas, where the burner member isformed centrally of the fire pot, or in a lower position to assist inheating the generating coils, it is necessary to provide a separate topplate. It will thus be obvious that our novel and compact burnerstructure not only is very conveniently located, compact and produces anefficient blast of flame, but also serves as a top plate. This topplate, being the top member of the burner structure, and the flamesbeing directed inwardly and upwardly, is never subjected to any intenseheat and will thus last the life of the fire pot, or the life of themain burner structure. Furthermore, the burner not only serves as a topplate but also serves as a main supporting member of the fire pot, as itcarries the shield member, the manifold and the priming pan, and alsoassists in locating and carrying one end of the generating tube, as bestshown in Fig. 2, and it also carries a handle 25. Thus by beingpositioned above the generating apparatus and being of compact andstrong structure, this novel combined burner structure and top platemakes possible a very compact novel and efficient fire pot assembly.

hat we claim is:

1. A fire pot of the liquid fuel type comprising in combination, a fueltank, an annular hollow burner member positioned and directly supportedby rods extending upvardly from the fuel tank, the top wall of saidburner member serving as a top plate for the fire pot, and the innerwall only being slotted whereby to initially direct the fuel vaporinwardly and centrally of the annular burner, an annular perforatescreen member positioned adjacent said slotted wall, and means inregistry with said slotted wall portions for holding said screen memberin position, said perforate screen forming a plurality of burneropenings for directing the liquid fuel inwardly and centrally from theburner member in a plurality of fine streams.

2. A fire pot of the liquid fuel type comprising a combined burner andtop plate, said combined burner and top plate being annuand hollow information, having its inner circumferential wall slotted, a perforatescreen element for forming burner openings extending around and adjacentsaid inner wall, and an integrally formed member positioned centrally ofsaid combined burner and top plate and comprising spaced ring members,for holding said screen member in position, a flame deflector plate anddeflecting the flames upwardly and centrally of the burner andsupporting lugs for positioning the member to be heated above thedeflector plate, said integrally formed member being secured to andsupported by said combined burner and top plate.

3. A fire pot of the liquid fuel type comprising a combined burner andtop plate, said combined burner and top plate being annular and hollowin formation and having its inner circumferential wall slotted, aperforate screen element extending around and adjacent said inner wall,and an integrally formed member positioned centrally of the burner andcomprising spaced ring members, for holding said screen member inposition, a flame deflector plate positioned centrally of the burner fordeflecting the flames upwardly and supporting lugs positioned around theperiphery of said deflector plate for supporting the member to beheated.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

JAMES IRONSIDE. CLARENCE B. OVERLY.

